Puzzle



(N Model.)

C. I. RICE.

Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

TIE-.5-

W'LJc'r-LE E E. E E;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. RICE, OF IVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION .formingpart of Letters Patent No. 416,344, dated December 3, 1889; Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,440. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES I. RICE, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare that the' following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 represents a top View of the puzzle. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are side views thereof, looking in the directions of arrows d, b, c, and CZ, respectively, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line e, Fig. l, looking in the direction of arrow e; and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line f, Fig. 2,'looking in the direction of arrow f.

My invention consists in arranging a certain number of movable square blocks or cubes, having the sides thereof numbered or lettered, within a suitable-box whose capacity is sufficient to contain said blocks, leaving a space equivalent to the size of one block vacan't, whose top or cover is preferably made of glass, and whose sides are provided with openings or perforations numbered and lettered to correspond with the numbers and letters on saidl blocks when the latter are moved into certain positions, the puzzle consisting in bringing the numbers or letters on the blocks, when said blocks are out of theirv proper positions, in line with the correspondingly numbered and lettered openings of the box, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others to better understand the construction and manipulation of said puzzle, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, G represents the box; G', its glass cover, whereby the movements of the blocks II may be observed in moving them about to bring them into their proper positions.

I indicates the openings in the sides of the box which enable the numbers on the blocks to be seen from the outside. Each opening isnumbered or lettered, as indicated in the drawings, with such numbers or letters as may be desired, and the blocks I-I are also numbered and lettered, upon one side at least, to correspond with the numbers and letters of the openings.

The inside of the boxG is preferably madev square, as are also the 'blocks II, seven of which are employed in this instance. They are fitted suiiiciently loose to be easily moved about by turning the box in various directions to bring them into their right positions after having been moved out of the same. By thus employing seven cubes in a square box it is obvious that a space .I equivalent to one of the cubes is always vacant. 'Therefore, as will also be seen, all the blocks may be moved verticallyor horizontally, and gradually worked into any desired position in either the bottom or top tier of blocks, after various successive moves in different directions, by tipping the box into different positions.' By carefully watching the numbers and letters on the blocks as they are moved about in connection with the corresponding numbers and letters of the openings they may, after exercising a due amount of study and patience, be brought' in line one with the other, as is indicated in the drawings, thus producing a very pleasing and fascinating amusement for both children and older people, as well as serving to train and strengthen the mind by the figuring and calculation required in bringing each block into its proper position-as, for instance, assuming that a number or letter is at an opposite corner diagonally from the corresponding number or letter of the opening with which it should come in line, considerable study and calculation, as well as many moves, are required to bring said block around where it belongs, one move perhaps throwing all the other blocks into the utmost confusion if the manipulator does not carefullyconsider each move and calculate where it will terminate.

Although I prefer seven cubes in a square box, as herein set forth, I do not limit myself thereto or to the number of side openings, as the same result may be obtained by the use of various combinations of blocks in boxes of other shapes, in which the space J, which i IOO flint I eluini ns my invention, :1nd desire the exception of a Space equivalent to one of 1o to Secure by Letters Patent, ssaid blocks or eubes, and which are adapted A puzzle consistingof :i box whose cover is to be moved about into different positions by nmde, preferably, ofglass,a11d Whose Sides nre tipping the box into diierent positions, Sub- 5 provided with :L series of lettered and nunistantially as Set forth.

bored openings through which the interior CHARLES I. RICE. may be Viewed, in combination with a. series XVitneSSeS; of numbered and lettered blocks or cubes A. A. BAKKER,

adapted to lill the interior of said box, With FORREST C. XVESSON. 

